21.04.2016

The Minister of Finance will take part in the informal meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 22 and 23 April 2016.

During the meeting the Finance Ministers will discuss the methods to address VAT fraud, the steps to improve cooperation among Member States' tax, customs and judicial authorities and the options to finance the transition to sustainable economy. Subject to consideration will also be the possible ways to simplify and increase the transparency of the Stability and Growth Pact. In the framework of a working lunch the Finance Ministers will discuss the challenges to the EU budget resulting from unforeseeable circumstances as well as whether the Multiannual Financial Framework is adequately prepared to respond to these challenges.

The Ministers and the Governors of Central Banks will consider the ways to strengthen the banking union, focusing on the possible policy options as regards the regulatory treatment of sovereign exposures. In connection with the Panama papers the European Commission will present an overview of the initiatives to combat money laundering, tax evasion and income concealment.